Bhubaneswar, 26 April (H.S.): In a significant move aimed at strengthening food security across the state, the Odisha government has announced the issuance of six lakh new ration cards to eligible beneficiaries. The initiative was confirmed by Food Supplies & Consumer Welfare Minister Krushna Chandra Patra during a press briefing on Saturday.

The development comes after a large-scale review led to the cancellation of ineligible, duplicate, and deceased beneficiaries’ ration cards. According to Minister Patra, individuals who are income tax payers or hold high-salaried jobs have been removed from the Public Distribution System (PDS) database, as they no longer meet the criteria for receiving subsidized food grains.

Additionally, nearly five lakh ration cards linked to deceased persons have been deleted, creating room for genuinely eligible citizens to be included in the system.

“This has enabled us to reallocate around six lakh ration cards to newly identified, deserving families,” said Patra. He reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring that no poor or eligible household is excluded from availing benefits under the PDS.

The Minister also acknowledged that a few genuine beneficiaries may have been inadvertently affected during the verification process. “If anyone’s ration card has been canceled by mistake, we urge them to reapply via the official portal. Upon verification, a new card will be issued,” he assured.

The department is currently processing a high volume of fresh applications, and field-level inquiries are underway to verify eligibility and prevent misuse of the scheme. Citizens have also been encouraged to report any irregularities or grievances directly to the department.

“Timely action will be taken on all complaints to uphold transparency and fairness in the distribution process,” Patra added.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda